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\'l) ANNUAL INSPECTOR'S 



R El PO RX 



"La Esmalta" Plantation 






Che linabamton 
tropical plantation Company 

Home Office, Binghamton, N. Y. 

PLANTATION LOCATED ON THE PAPALOAPAM RIVER NEAR 
TUXTEPEC, STATE OF OAXACA, MEXICO. 

Is/L. I. FOKD, Inspeotok. 

BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 

April, 1905. 



SECOND ANNUAL INSPECTOR'S 

r e: po rt 



ON 



"La Esmalta' Plantation 



PROPERTY OF 



dhe finabamton 
tropica! plantation Company 

Home Office, Binghamton, N. Y. 

PLANTATION LOCATED ON THE PAPALOAPAM RIVER NEAR 
TUXTEPEC, STATE OF OAXACA, MEXICO. 

IMI_ I. IFOIFLZD;, Inspector. 

BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 

April, 1905. 



F. Whitk & Co, Book and Job Printers, Binghaxito.v, X. Y 



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To Our Shareholders: — 



One year ago this month we presented 
to you the First Inspector's Report, and it is with increased 
gratification that we herewith present the Report of Mr. 
Mason I. Ford, the Second Inspector. 

Read it. It speaks for itself. The Sugar Mill that was 
then "in our minds" has within the past year become a 
reality. A large acreage of land has been cleared and plant- 
ed to RUBBER which is a permanent investment for future 
years and adds greatly to the value of the plantation. 

The acreage of corn (The Mexican staff of life) planted 
during the year was also large. The Coffee, Banana and 
other crops were properly cared for, many new buildings 
were erected, miles offence built, other improvements were 
made, also a beginning in that substantial and profitable 
industry, " Cattle Raising." 

Your co-operation produced these results and we thank 
you for it. Assuring you that we shall do our utmost to 
merit its continuance we remain. 

Very respectfully yours, 

THE BINGHAMTON TROPICAL PLANTATION COMPANY. 

April, 1905. 




M . I. FORD, Second Inspector. 



REPORT 

TO THE 

STOCKHOLDERS 

OF 

Binghamton Tropical Plantation Company 

BY 

M. I. FORD, INSPECTOR. 



To the Stockholders of the Binghamton Tropical Plan- 
tation Company : — 

I beg herewith to submit my report as official inspector 
of the Company's Plantation and property for the past year. 

My inspection was made during the week beginning 
Feb. 8, 1905. In addition to the examination of the Plan- 
tation of our Company, I have made such inquiry as was 
practicable for me to make relating to tropical agriculture 
in Mexico. I also visited a number of Rubber and Sugar 
Plantations. One of the sugar plantations was one of the 
largest in Mexico, their mill having the capacity of 200 tons 
of cane in twelve hours. 

My report will contain a statement of the work done 
and the progress made in developing the plantation during 
the past year, which to me seemed very satisfactory. I also 
wish at this time to most heartily thank you for the confi- 
dence placed in me by electing me as your Annual In- 
spector. 

"I, A ESMALTA." 

La Esmalta the property of The Binghamton Tropical 
Plantation Company is situated in the District of Tuxtepec, 
State of Oaxaca, Mexico, on the Papaloapam River, on 
which river it has a frontage of nearly two miles. 



It is about six miles above Tuxtepec and about twelve 
miles above El Hule, our nearest railroad station which is 
at the juncture of the Vera Cruz & Pacific Railroad and the 
Papaloapam River, thus affording direct communication by 
railroad and water with Vera Cruz, Cordova, Orazaba and 
Mexico City. It is 87 miles from El Hule to Cordova and 
96 miles from El Hule to A'era Cruz by way of the V. C. & 
P. R. R. and 197 miles from Cordova to Mexico City. 

I found the fertility of the soil of " La Esmalta " Plan- 
tation to be on the average much better and deeper than 
any other plantation that I saw while in Mexico. There is 
not a foot of objectionable land on the plantation. Being 
located near the foot hills of the mountains within the 
" Rubber Belt " where rains which are of special importance 
during the dry season, are almost certain to come every 
month of the year. These conditions are very essential 
for the rapid growth of the rubber tree. The climate and 
general conditions resulting from its location render it much 
more healthful than is the country nearer the Gulf coast. 



RUBBER. 

I found about 1500 rubber trees all the way from six to 
fifteen years old, as reported last year, which are in good 
condition. Last year ten of the trees that were from seven 
to ten years old, were tapped experimentally and 11 pounds 
of rubber were obtained. Those same trees were tapped 
again this year in the same month, January, and 15 pounds 
of rubber were obtained — a very satisfactory increase for 
one year. (Immediately after coagulation it weighed 17 
lbs.) 

I saw one tree tapped and two and two fifths pounds of 
rubber were obtained being weighed immediately after coa- 
gulation. This tree we thought was about fifteen years old. 

Last June our plantation Manager had 121 acres of land 
planted with rubber, containing about 20,000 trees which 

6 





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SNAP-SHOT OF RUBBER TREE WHILE BEING TAPPED, 
MENTIONED ON OPPOSITE PAGE. 

are in a good growing condition and will average as good as 
any that 1 saw of the same age. These trees were planted 
in rows sixteen feet apart each way. Corn was planted in 
the same field in rows four feet apart. 

I may add that there is a great diversity of opinions in 
regard to the number of rubber trees to be planted to the 
acre. I find in visiting the different plantations and from 
reports I have read of others, that they plant them at dis- 
tances varying from six to eighteen feet apart. As far as I 
have investigated I can see no reason why six feet apart is 
not better than eighteen. 

CORN. 

The field of corn that was reported by my predecessor 
was harvested during the month of May and yielded 350 

7 



zontlers. (A zontler is a Mexican measure for corn consis- 
ting of 400 ears.) Worth $4.00 per zontler. 

The corn planted in the rubber field gave an estimated 
yield of 500 zontlers, and during the last week of December 
another field was planted, which by pacing off we calculated 
to contain at least twenty-five acres. It is very even and in 
a fair growing condition. In one corner of the field between 
the rows of corn was planted about 2| acres of sugar cane. 

Heretofore the cultivation of the crops has been done 
by manual labor. 

Dr. Sheffield, the president of the Company, had seen 
a cultivator on a neighboring plantation that had for- 
merly been used in cultivating tobacco. He suggested to 
the Manager that he borrow it. He did so and we made a 
harness for one of the mules and tried cultivating the corn. 
It worked so successfully that our president when in Mexico 
City bought two new cultivators to be used for the next crop 
of corn which will be planted in May. 

Corn is a valuable product, being the chief article of 
food for the natives, there is always a good demand for it. 

The corn sells on the plantation at the rate of $1.00 per 
100 ears for the select ears not husked. Shelled corn was 
selling in Tuxtepec at wholesale for $70.00 per long ton. 

The cost of taking shelled corn to Tuxtepec was less 
than seven cents per 100 pounds in two-ton lots. Larger 
amounts would be less proportionately. (These prices are 
in Mexican money.) 

I would expect a much larger yield when cultivated in 
a modern way. 

COFFEE. 

I think as reported for 1901 that there are 14,000 
Coffee trees on the plantation, and judge their condition to 

8 



be fine. The last crop was picked in November and Dec- 
ember and was still there on the plantation. There were 52 
large sacks holding about 100 pound each, making some- 
thing over 5000 pounds in all. It will be shipped before 
the end of the dry season. 




PULPING COFFEE ON "LA ESMALTA." 

In the Coffee Orchard are about GOO Cacao (Cocoa) 
trees, that are well loaded witli pods, on an average of 12 
pods to a tree and are worth ten cents per pod. In Febru- 
ary there were planted 200 more Cacao trees between the 
house and the river. 

Beans or seeds are taken from the pods of the Cacao 
trees from which Chocolate, and breakfast Cocoa are manu- 
factured. 



A cacao orchard well attended should yield very large 
returns. The seeds retail in Mexico from 75 cents to $1.00 
per pound, Mexican money. 

SUGAR CANE. 

There is a field of fifty acres in which the cane is twice 
as large as any other that I saw, and I visited a plantation 
where they said that they had 2000 acres of it. 

About four acres had been made into sugar. The mill 
is working very nicely and improving every day without 
expensive help, men that have learned the making of sugar 
in this mill, and the quality of the sugar is as good as any 
made in that locality. 

Our Manager thinks he has a market for it up the river. 
We are now getting 6 and 7 cents per pound for it Con- 
siderable had been sold and there was about $1000 worth 
in the dry house. I should think that it will take at least 
three months to finish grinding the cane. The cane grows 
up from the roots without replanting for a number of years, 
which makes it very desirable land for producing sugar 
cane. 

PINE APPLES. 

There are 1000 pine apple plants that were set out last 
June. They are of the celebrated variety for which Tezo- 
napa is noted, and the seedlings were obtained from Lagoona 
Chica Plantation near that place. It requires two 3 r ears for 
pine apples to produce the first crop after which they bear 
fruit each year. 

BANANAS. 

There are about five acres of bananas which are of the 
best varieties and in a fine growing condition. The grade 
of fruit produced is extra fine. They bring about the same 
price as corn, i. e. one cent each. 

10 



There is a good demand for them at Tuxtepec. While I 
was on the plantation a man came up from Tuxtepec in a 
canoe for a load of them. This orchard or " platinal " as 
they call it, has bananas ripening all the year round. 

STOCK. 

I found on our plantation 95 head of cattle consisting 
of 30 steers, 37 cows, and 28 two-year-olds ; also 33 calves 
that came with the cows without cost and three more that 
have come since the cows were bought, which was the last 
of January. 

Four and one half pairs of oxen. They are very fine, 
are excellent workers and are in good condition. 

There are five horses for riding, two colts about a ) 7 ear 
old, two pack mules and nine pigs. 

POULTRY. 

There are fifty hens, three turkeys three old ducks and 
fourteen young ones. The total cost of this live stock was 
$1669.83.' 

TOOLS. 

Blacksmith, carpenter and pipe fitting tools, ropes and 
tackles that cost in New York $516. Seven ox carts cost- 
ing $55. each at the Factory, total of $385. They were 
shipped to the plantation with the sugar machinery. One 
corn sheller $20, one Coffee Pulper $175, three sets of scales 
$90, one sewing machine $75, six saddles $75, one boat 
$112.50 and an estimated value of other tools not herein 
mentioned about $200. Total $1648.50. 

The estimated value of corn in the crib $800 and shell- 
ed corn ready for the market 

LofC. 



ll 




Papaloapam River in front of La Esmalta. The plantation boat loaded with two tons of 
Corn on its way to Tuxtepec— Mr. Ford and Mr. Shelley in foreground. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

The plantation owns a boat of about two ions capacity 
which is used in carrying produce to market and also for 
bringing materials, provisions, &c, and for carrying sand 
from up the River where we have a fine bed of excellent 
quality on the River bank. 

There is also an excellent quality of lime stone near the 
Manager's house. A lime-kiln has been built which will 
make all of the lime needed on the plantation. This will 
effect quite a saving for considerable lime is used in various 
ways and it is quite expensive if you have to have it ship- 
ped in. 



12 



FISH. 

I saw six fish that had been taken from the river not 
far from the house that weighed 31 pounds. The largest 
one weighed 7 4-5 pounds. It is the intention of our mana- 
ger to get a net and catch and dry them to sell from the 
plantation store to the natives and workmen. 




Snap-shot of the Six Fish and the Workman that Caught them. 

FENCING. 

New barbed wire amounting to $78.75 has been bought 
and new fencing has been built and old fencing rebuilt that 
we estimated to make a total of about six miles. 

In building fence those kinds of wood have been select- 
ed for posts that take root and then they become live trees 
and make a fence that will last a life time. 

There is considerable more fence that needs rebuilding. 

We are fortunate in being located where there is an 
abundance of good labor. I was agreeably surprised at the 
ability and faithfulness of the workmen on the plantation. 

13 



The common field hand is paid from seventy-five cents 
to one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. (Equal to 35 
cents to 62 cents U. S. Monej.) They board themselves, 
buying most of their supplies at our Plantation Store. 

During the year ending February 1, 1905, the entire 
cost of labor including the construction of the sugar-mill 
and Manager's salary was $0,257.27. 

It is the intention to adopt modern methods as fast as 
practicable, thereby reducing the cost of running the plan- 
tation to the minimum. 




MANAGER'S RESIDENCE, STORE, ETC. 

BUILDINGS. 

I found the buildings in excellent shape and condition. 
One]Ranch House of thirteen rooms, one story high, porch- 
es on both sides running the full length with a galvanized 
iron roof. It is sided, partitioned and ceiled with dressed 
and matched Southern pine. The flooring is of the same 
material. It cost when built $1500.00. 

Ten new palm-roofed houses which have been built 
since the last report at a cost of about $50.00 each. These 

14 



buildings are all made from material taken from the plan- 
tation. There are four old houses that were on the place 
when bought. Last year's report gave eleven. Of the other 
seven, one burned, two fell down and the rest were taken 
down, as they were old, the posts were decayed, the roofs 
were full of insects and their location was on ground where 
water would stand during the wet season. The new houses 
were built on higher ground. 

There is one horse stable, shed, and a corn house that 
cost to build them all about $200.00. 

The life of these palm-roofed buildings is said to be 
about ten years. Those built on our plantation are of much 
better quality than many that are built in that locality. 




SUGAR MILL IN OPERATION, SUGAR CANE, WORKMEN 
AND CARTS. 

SUGAR PI,ANT AND BUILDINGS. 

The main building is 80 feet 8 inches long, by 44 feet 
8 inches wide on the end where the engine, crusher and de- 
fecators are located, 54 feet 8 inches on the other end where 
the boiler and evaporators are. It is boarded and battoned 
all around with Southern pine lumber, has a galvanized iron 
roof, concrete foundations for the whole mill and for the 
machinery, and a fine cement floor. 

15 



It contains a 50-borse power boiler with a bagasse 
burning furnace, one 24-liorse power engice for running the 
mill and the cane and the bagasse carriers, one G horse 
power engine for running the blower for the bagasse burner 
and the evaporators, three steam pumps, two defecators and 
two "Cooks" patent copper evaporators. All new. 

The mill is a No. 5 " Niles n manufactured by the 
Blymyer Iron Works Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio. 

AVater is obtained from a well about 30 feet deep loca- 
ted in the center of the building. From this well it is pump- 
ed into a cypress tank that is above the mill, and is conduct- 
ed wherever needed with pipes and hose. One store-house 
for the sugar two stories high covered with boards and then 
recovered with galvanized iron to make it air tight. A fire 
is kept in this building during damp weather to keep the 
sugar in good condition. The repair shop and tool room is 
also in this building. 

There are two long sheds built for working and storing 
building material. The cost of this plant, buildings and 
machinery, was about $20,000.00. I will say that whatever 
has been built in the line of buildings and machinery has 
been well built. 

I would also state that the Manager was building a 
brick oven for baking bread for which there is a good de- 
mand and it will be sold from the plantation store. 

SUMMARY. 

There is now on the plantation : 

121 Acres of Rubber, planted last June. 

15 Acres (estimated) Rubber that was on the plantation 
when bought. 

52 Acres of sugar cane. 

25 Acres of corn. 

20 Acres in the Coffee Orchard, (estimated) (trees bear- 
ing.) 

16 



5 Acres of Bananas. 

300 Acres of pasture, and the balance of the plantation 
as covered with a thick tropical growth. 
1000 Pine Apple plants. 
800 Cacao trees (Cocoa,) 600 bearing. 

Considerable of wild growth such as brush, &c, has 
grown up in the pastures, and it will be necessary to clean 
them up before we can expect very large returns from fat- 
tening cattle for the market. 

It is an ideal cattle country. There being no frost, 
grass grows continually and cattle run in the pastures 
throughout the entire year. There are native kinds of grass 
that are excellent for fattening purposes. The kind called 
"Para" is grown by cattle men to the greatest extent. Of 
this kind there is very little on the plantation, and it is the 
intention to plant out a large field of it as soon as practica- 
ble, for the purpose of fattening cattle for the market. 

PLANTATION MANAGER. 

Dr. J. C. Orcutt's term of service expired with Nov. 30, 
1904, and the president of the Company engaged Mr. John 
W. Shelley as his successor. 

Mr. Shelley's native state is Kentucky. He has been 
in Mexico three } r ears. He comes to us with the highest 
commendations of his previous employers, and we trust that 
he will do equally as well for us. He is a gentleman in 
every respect and a splendid book-keeper. 

I think his methods of classifying the' different depart- 
ments of the w r ork are excellent and he is a great favorite 
with the natives. 

Mrs. Shelley is a lady in every sense of the word. She 
is the proud possesor of a medal won at school and present- 
ed to her from the hands of President Diaz. She speaks 
both the Spanish and English languages and is a great help, 
particularly in the store. 

17 



Mr. Shelley rings the plantation bell at 4:45 o'clock for 
the workmen to get their breakfast, and again at 5:45 o'clock 
to commence work. At 11 o'clock the bell is sounded for 
dinner, at 12 o'clock to commence work in the afternoon and 
again at 6 o'clock the ending of their days work. 

STORE. 

I wish to make mention of our Plantation Store which 
I think our new manager will succeed in making a very 
profitable business. The sales for January were $375.41. 
The President was told by a resident of Tuxtepec, a well in- 
formed man thoroughly acquainted with that section of 
country, that one fifth of the trade of Tuxtepec passed by 
our door, either by the road or the River, and it is the in- 
tention to try to develop commercially in this direction. 

At present the store is open only three hours a day, one 
hour in the morning, from 11 to 12 and from G to 7 in the 
afternoon. 

Feb. 1, 1905, there was cash in the Bank of London & 
Mexico, Mexico City, $1464.90 and on the Plantation $940. 

There had been paid into this bank from the Bingham- 
ton Office a total of $39,462.28. 

The amounts given in this report when not otherwise 
mentioned (excepting the store sales) are in U. S. Money. 
The rate of exchange when I was in Mexico City was $2.01|. 

I wish also to state that while in Mexico City, our 
President paid the last indebtedness against our plantation, 
leaving our property free and clear. If I have omitted any- 
thing upon which information is desired I will be pleased 
to have you call on me personally or by letter. Again I 
thank you. Hoping that this report will be satisfactory 
I remain, 

Yours truly, 

M. I. FORD, 

Inspector. 

18 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 680 256 8™ I 



lieBinghamton Tropical 
Plantation Company. 



29 Arthur St., Binghamton, N. Y. 

(iNOORPORATEO,) 



OFFICERS: 

J. W. SHEFFIELD, President and General Manager, 

29 Arthur St., Bingh 

JOHN HULL, Jr., (of Hull, Grummond i 

Cor. Water & Henry Sts., Binghanit 



W. S. C. SMITH, Secretary 



iry St., Biugh 



FBED H. HASKINS, (of Hills, Me I I luskins,) T 

Cor. Chenango & -ta., Bingh 



